I had to clean the coin below but still can't see the mintmark. I have tried acetone, distilled water for days, acetone again, soap and water, and acetone again but can't see the mintmark. It is a 1949 dime. Any ideas on how to get it off so I can see the mintmark if there is any?
The date is 1949. It was much worse there was a big glob of stuff on the back where the mintmark is. Whether the big glob was removed or not, it may be just worth junk now. I found it in a box of dimes.
In looking at your pic and the price guide, I think that it's not worth the trouble. I'm sure there'll be more opinions soon, so stick around. I will.
Accourding to Cointrackers.com the coins is worth starting at $3-$5 in poor condition depending on the mintmark. Maybe I need a harsher cleaning method? 1949s is a key date in silver roosies. I tried pencil eraser just on the part where the glob is and it would not budge. I am also wondering where to put it in my Whitman book but looks like I will just stick in the P spot.
Keep it with you and trade it for a problem free example when you find one. Most dealers are going to melt them anyway, so they don't really mind the problems on the reverse.
Nice find! Probably just worth melt now regardless of what you do. Could try white vinegar, lemon juice or coca cola if you are curious. TC
Soak in fresh lemon juice for a few hours (maybe less, like 1/2 hour), then try to gently scoop the crap off with a cotton cue tip, without rubbing too much. Lemon juice is quite strong on coins, if there is light layer of natural toning, it will probably be removed as well.
rake it off with your fingernail or a toothpick and be done with it. Its not worth more than a minute of your time.
vinegar seems to be working The blob was much thicker and bigger but after soaking for several days in distilled water and acetone the blob has gotten smaller. The white vinegar is coming off and I think it is a (P). Still a semi-key filler now that it is obviously been cleaned but see how those little bits left on coins means cleaning since there probably was a big bit at one time. I had to clean it since the mintmark was covered up and even at poor condition according to cointrackers.com the different mint marks mean different values.
White vinegar is getting it off. It is 1949P, a semi-key. Since the damage is done minds well try to get the rest of the crap off it. It reminds me of a cleaned, common date, VF barber dime I bought for $6 that I returned once I thought it would be an issue. I noticed the one guy while waiting on me was constantly checking the grey sheet for everything even halfs in the junk bin but he was not discounted for problems like cleaning with crap still stuck to it. I returned it and got a dollar face of junk silver dimes half mercs.
